Stool - culture for Campylobacter

Fecal culture for Campylobacter

Campylobacter jejuni is a gram-negative bacterium thats considered the majoretiological agent of human diarrhea worldwide. It causes gastroenteritis and sepsis collectively referred to as campylobacteriosis.

Infection with these microorganisms is mainly caused byingestion of food products of animal origin contaminated with the bacteria, primarily improperly prepared poultry meat or unpasteurized milk. There are also known cases of human infection following direct contact with domestic or farm animals. Most infections are observed amongd children under 6 years old and adults 25 – 30 years old. They are often associated with travel– they are categorized as so-called travel diarrhea.

The clinical symptoms in Campylobacter jejuni enteritis do not differ significantly from those caused by other etiological agents of acute diarrhea, such as Salmonella and Shigella. The average incubation period of the infection is 3-4 days, with symptoms lasting up to a week. The bacterium localizes mainly in the jejunum, ileum, and then in the colon and rectum, causing their swelling, ulceration, bleeding. In general, the infection resolves spontaneously, in case of good replenishment of water and electrolyte losses during its course. Treatment may be required in cases of suspected carriage (asymptomatic fecal excretion of Campylobacter).

Campylobacter in infants or the elderly, with liver disease (alcoholic cirrhosis), malignancies, diabetes, weakened immunity (AIDS) can, however, cause complicated infections (associated with inflammation of other parts of the gastrointestinal tract – gastrointestinal bladder, pancreas, liver, peritoneum, ileal ulcers) or disseminated (extraintestinal – myocarditis, pericarditis, glomerulonephritis, vasculitis). If sepsis is induced in peopleb at risk, it is necessary to administer an antibiotic. In children, meningeal complications and encephalopathies (diseases of the mbrain)

Also, its infections with this bacterium that are attributed to the developmentof autoimmune diseases, caused by the similarity between the body's own molecules and those on the pathogen's surface. Complications thatre likely to occur for several weeks after infection are reactive arthritisw (a rheumatologic condition) and Guillan-Barrégo syndrome (neurologic).

When to perform a stool culture for Campylobacter?

The test is ordered to diagnose infections of the gastrointestinal tract that occur with diarrhea (and especially those caused by travels to endemic regions), in order to exclude or confirm Campylobacter as its cause. In addition to culture, feces can also be tested rw for the presence of antigensw (surface particles) of this bacteria.

The test should be supplemented by serological methods – testing the level of antibodies directed against the bacteria in the blood. This proves helpful especiallylly in the case of detecting a history of infection, and determining whether it was the cause of the development of complications (reactive arthritisw, Guillan-Barrégo syndrome).

Who should perform the test?

Who should perform a stool culture for Campylobacter?

All persons with symptoms of acute gastrointestinal infection (gastroenteritis and/or enteritis):

• weakness, musclele and jointle,
• insomnia, dizziness,
• diarrhea, sometimes bloody,
• nausea, vomiting
• fever,
• incontinence, abdominal pain

Also, patients, in case of suspected complications after Campylobacter infection, such as:

• reactive arthritisw, manifested by soreness and swelling of one or more jointsw, but also problems with urination, lumpy rash, oral aphthae, vasculitisw or conjunctivitis of the eye
• Guillan-Barre syndrome, manifested by numbness and tingling of the extremities, weakness and muscle pains that, progressing, can lead to paresis, paralysis and even respiratory failure